From HealthNewsDigest.com
Be Wary of Health Food Pretenders
By
Jan 19, 2012 - 4:41:38 PM
New Food & Fitness publication shows you how to feed your family quick, healthy dinners without breaking the budget
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - YONKERS, NY — Consumers may be unwittingly sabotaging their efforts to trim waist-lines by choosing health food pretenders that are often high in fat, sugars, and calories says a new report in Food & Fitness, a special Consumer Reports publication now on newsstands.
The special full-color, 84-page publication lays out simple solutions for trimming salt, sugars and fat from your diet with easy-to-follow recipes that are healthy, quick, and won’t break your budget. Plus, who needs to go gluten free (and who doesn’t); 13 money-saving ingredient swaps; and the nine germiest places in your kitchen and what you can do to avoid foodborne illnesses. The publication also describes one family’s journey from fast food overload to total nutritional intervention.
Some highlights from Food & Fitness ($6.99), available on newsstands until February 10th wherever magazines are sold:
Keep condiments fresh: To fridge or not to fridge? Instructions for keeping 13 condiments are outlined in the magazine.
Learn to use visual cues to judge serving sizes: An easy-to-follow cheat sheet helps dieters who struggle with portion sizes by providing simple visual cues that anyone can remember—and use.
The nine germiest places in your kitchen: One in six of us gets some sort of foodborne bug every year but some simple changes in your kitchen can help keep your family safe. Start with your sink because the drain, faucet handles, and sponges are among the more heavily contaminated areas of your house.
The report on unhealthy “health” food features 12 not-so-nutritious foods that can fool you into thinking they’re good for you, such as turkey hot dogs and even applesauce.
“If you’re serious about losing those extra pounds, then these foods should be strictly off-limits,” says Gayle Williams, editor, Food & Fitness. “But for every unhealthy food choice, there’s a satisfying alternative that we recommend to replace it.”
Some examples from the list:
Applesauce: When sweetened, it has a lot of added sugar, as much as 200 calories in a 1-cup serving. TRY THIS: Reach for the unsweetened variety and try adding cinnamon. Or better, says Williams, eat an apple.
Turkey Hot Dogs: They tend to be surprisingly high in fat—higher, even, than regular hot dogs. And some are loaded with sodium and nitrates. TRY THIS: Consider a turkey breast sandwich and go for the version with the lowest amount of fat.
Vitamin-Infused Waters: Sure, they have added nutrients but they’re often packed with sugar and sometimes caffeine. TRY THIS: Reach for plain old water or sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange.
Banana Chips: Yes, they’re made from good-for-you bananas but they’re usually fried in coconut or palm oil, unhealthy sources of saturated fat. No wonder a serving can reach 210 calories and a whopping 13 grams of fat. TRY THIS: A banana has lot of nutrients and zero fat.
Couscous: Regular couscous is a processed, refined grain, just like white pasta, delivering minimal nutritional value. TRY THIS: Whole-wheat couscous or opt for a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice.
Vegetable chips: While they may contain the colors of the rainbow, they don’t count as a serving of veggies and they’re unusually high in fat and calories. TRY THIS: Air popped popcorn or dried veggies and watch the fat and salt on the ingredients label.
The complete list of health food pretenders is available in Consumer Reports’ Food & Fitness magazine and online at www.ConsumerReports.org. To read the other stories highlighted, pick up a copy of the special Consumer Reports’ Food & Fitness magazine.
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